Liam U. Taylor
@liamtaylor.bsky.social
Doherty Postdoc in Biology - Bowdoin College - BSS Kent Island (they/them)
Pinned
Out now in Behavioral Ecology.
We built weigh bridges that allow us automatically to track the energetics of a sensitive, nocturnal seabird. We show how these devices can help answer fundamental questions about parental care.
doi.org/10.1093/behe...
We built weigh bridges that allow us automatically to track the energetics of a sensitive, nocturnal seabird. We show how these devices can help answer fundamental questions about parental care.
doi.org/10.1093/behe...
please google Lesser Florican Sypheotides indicus
December 29, 2025 at 11:58 PM
please google Lesser Florican Sypheotides indicus
old godwit photo from one of my favorite field techin times. Look at that feather wear!!
great birds up there but job did give me legitimate phobia of bears.
great birds up there but job did give me legitimate phobia of bears.
December 29, 2025 at 2:11 AM
old godwit photo from one of my favorite field techin times. Look at that feather wear!!
great birds up there but job did give me legitimate phobia of bears.
great birds up there but job did give me legitimate phobia of bears.
The more I engage with academia, the more I think about myself. My ambition, my legacy, my nemeses and papers and hopes and plans and ideas. It's exhausting and miserable and cowardly
December 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
The more I engage with academia, the more I think about myself. My ambition, my legacy, my nemeses and papers and hopes and plans and ideas. It's exhausting and miserable and cowardly
Reposted by Liam U. Taylor
I am very excited to share our new paper with my amazing co-authors and mentors @dmacguig.bsky.social @fishgenomes.bsky.social @tjnear.bsky.social . We investigate a secondary contact zone in #darters. track.smtpsendmail.com/9032119/c?p=...
Mosaic tri-lineage secondary contact shapes diverse genomic outcomes in darters
Abstract. Speciation does not always lead to complete reproductive isolation, which can result in hybrid zones with gene flow. In freshwater fishes, second
track.smtpsendmail.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I am very excited to share our new paper with my amazing co-authors and mentors @dmacguig.bsky.social @fishgenomes.bsky.social @tjnear.bsky.social . We investigate a secondary contact zone in #darters. track.smtpsendmail.com/9032119/c?p=...
sex is about as essential as Richard Dawkins is to evolutionary biology - which is to say, not essential 💜
Hey, fellow evolutionary biologists:
If you support trans rights, like, comment, or repost this. I want to show that transphobes like Richard Dawkins are a loud minority that does not represent our community
If you support trans rights, like, comment, or repost this. I want to show that transphobes like Richard Dawkins are a loud minority that does not represent our community
And that’s a follow.
Actually I do have a question if you have a sec.
Without exception the most transphobic group of scientists I’ve run into online are evolutionary biologists. Every single one of them has expressed the same opinion: transness cannot be anything other than social contagion. Why?
Actually I do have a question if you have a sec.
Without exception the most transphobic group of scientists I’ve run into online are evolutionary biologists. Every single one of them has expressed the same opinion: transness cannot be anything other than social contagion. Why?
December 22, 2025 at 5:50 PM
sex is about as essential as Richard Dawkins is to evolutionary biology - which is to say, not essential 💜
i have 150 days to figure out how to wear fieldwork gear all non-binary like. constraints - cannot scare gulls or tenured coworkers
December 22, 2025 at 12:24 AM
i have 150 days to figure out how to wear fieldwork gear all non-binary like. constraints - cannot scare gulls or tenured coworkers
close observations of my most traditionally successful peers suggests much academic productivity is driven by a desire to be seen as really smart
this has put me at a profound career disadvantage, because, more like a normal person, I just want people to think I'm hot and a good cook
this has put me at a profound career disadvantage, because, more like a normal person, I just want people to think I'm hot and a good cook
December 22, 2025 at 12:03 AM
close observations of my most traditionally successful peers suggests much academic productivity is driven by a desire to be seen as really smart
this has put me at a profound career disadvantage, because, more like a normal person, I just want people to think I'm hot and a good cook
this has put me at a profound career disadvantage, because, more like a normal person, I just want people to think I'm hot and a good cook
Reposted by Liam U. Taylor
14 two-year postdocs for academics of any nationality who cannot continue their research due to US politics. Do share if you know of such.
Post-doc positions:
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
Call for Applications: Early Career Rescue Fellowship – Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies
uni-freiburg.de
December 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM
14 two-year postdocs for academics of any nationality who cannot continue their research due to US politics. Do share if you know of such.
"Most top achievers (cartoonists, stand-ups, skateboard video producers) demonstrated lower performance than many peers during their early years. Indeed, across the highest adult performance, peak performance is highly correlated with complete and ongoing mental breakdown."
December 20, 2025 at 5:07 PM
"Most top achievers (cartoonists, stand-ups, skateboard video producers) demonstrated lower performance than many peers during their early years. Indeed, across the highest adult performance, peak performance is highly correlated with complete and ongoing mental breakdown."
Reposted by Liam U. Taylor
Coming to the end of your studies and thinking about career options? We've got another exciting ECR talk lined up, this time on #Seabird Careers 🦢💼
📆 Fri 12 December
🕥 9.30 - 11 am (UK)
📍 Online
Sign up HERE to attend ⤵️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
And stay tuned for who's on our panel! 👀
📆 Fri 12 December
🕥 9.30 - 11 am (UK)
📍 Online
Sign up HERE to attend ⤵️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
And stay tuned for who's on our panel! 👀
![Two people wearing coloured coats, sitting on a cliff overlooking the sea. They are using binoculars to watch birds in the distance. [Photo: Danni Thompson]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wvb4iczed4vztwh6wsn5fsb2/bafkreic7uzxotmlxo2s2bq2q7zmod45jchkupz3ohzmspzmz3ro7zc72w4@jpeg)
December 2, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Coming to the end of your studies and thinking about career options? We've got another exciting ECR talk lined up, this time on #Seabird Careers 🦢💼
📆 Fri 12 December
🕥 9.30 - 11 am (UK)
📍 Online
Sign up HERE to attend ⤵️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
And stay tuned for who's on our panel! 👀
📆 Fri 12 December
🕥 9.30 - 11 am (UK)
📍 Online
Sign up HERE to attend ⤵️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
And stay tuned for who's on our panel! 👀
fyi if you manually assign factor levels dimnames for a custom discrete model in R package ape it will internally refactor them before rate estimates -
the model it SHOWS from ace.print is right
but the $index.matrix will not match with the dimnames from the model you put in!
#phylogenetics
the model it SHOWS from ace.print is right
but the $index.matrix will not match with the dimnames from the model you put in!
#phylogenetics
December 19, 2025 at 7:14 PM
fyi if you manually assign factor levels dimnames for a custom discrete model in R package ape it will internally refactor them before rate estimates -
the model it SHOWS from ace.print is right
but the $index.matrix will not match with the dimnames from the model you put in!
#phylogenetics
the model it SHOWS from ace.print is right
but the $index.matrix will not match with the dimnames from the model you put in!
#phylogenetics
Reposted by Liam U. Taylor
New special issue in Molecular Ecology on Conservation Genomics #popGen #evolution 🧪🧬🖥️ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/1365294x...
Special Issue: CONSERVATION GENOMICS ‐ MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Molecular Ecology: Vol 34, No 23
Molecular Ecology is an international journal for research using molecular genetic techniques to address questions in ecology, evolution, behavior and conservation.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:45 PM
New special issue in Molecular Ecology on Conservation Genomics #popGen #evolution 🧪🧬🖥️ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/1365294x...
Reposted by Liam U. Taylor
NEW JOB in #ornithology with @RSPBScience to tag and track #seabirds on Rathlin Island: buff.ly/YXOCMiU
December 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
NEW JOB in #ornithology with @RSPBScience to tag and track #seabirds on Rathlin Island: buff.ly/YXOCMiU
I hope every single trans kid survives this misery until the day they get the care they've always deserved, and I hope everyone I know does everything they can to help these kids survive
December 18, 2025 at 10:47 PM
I hope every single trans kid survives this misery until the day they get the care they've always deserved, and I hope everyone I know does everything they can to help these kids survive
Reposted by Liam U. Taylor
Anyone who supports this is my Enemy
The Trump administration is expected to announce several moves Thursday that will have the effect of essentially banning gender-affirming care for transgender young people, even in states where it is still legal.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz announce moves to ban gender-affirming care for young people
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to announce a package of measures that would together ban gender-affirming care for minors. A press conference is set for 11 a.m. Thursday.
www.npr.org
December 18, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Anyone who supports this is my Enemy
Reposted by Liam U. Taylor
🧪🐠 I am hiring a postdoc! Work will be on patterns of biodiversity across phylogenetic scales using teleost fishes as a model. Apply by end of Jan 2026 for full consideration apply.interfolio.com/179070 I encourage folks to reach out with any questions. Please Share!
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:02 PM
🧪🐠 I am hiring a postdoc! Work will be on patterns of biodiversity across phylogenetic scales using teleost fishes as a model. Apply by end of Jan 2026 for full consideration apply.interfolio.com/179070 I encourage folks to reach out with any questions. Please Share!
Reposted by Liam U. Taylor
"Skua[s] held the carcass without shaking when waiting for the collaborator, and then repeatedly pulled in unison. By contrast, they shook or pecked the carcass when alone. Experimental studies are now needed to determine the extent to which skua[s] understand the causal role of their partner"...
An observation of teamwork in a seabird: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #ornithology
December 15, 2025 at 4:25 PM
"Skua[s] held the carcass without shaking when waiting for the collaborator, and then repeatedly pulled in unison. By contrast, they shook or pecked the carcass when alone. Experimental studies are now needed to determine the extent to which skua[s] understand the causal role of their partner"...
damn, outbid
Pachycephalosaurus sold at auction donated to NMNH, will be on display next week
www.si.edu/newsdesk/rel...
www.si.edu/newsdesk/rel...
Smithsonian Acquires Exceptionally Complete Skull of Iconic Dome-Headed Dinosaur
www.si.edu
December 12, 2025 at 1:06 AM
damn, outbid
PITCH: we all do more work, BUT we do it all the time, AND it's worse than ever
December 12, 2025 at 12:55 AM
PITCH: we all do more work, BUT we do it all the time, AND it's worse than ever
PITCH: anonymous beer review
December 12, 2025 at 12:54 AM
PITCH: anonymous beer review
PITCH: like peer review, BUT instead of spending months contorting something you ultimately don't care about for nameless figures who have never seen your study species for the ultimate glory of a paying $4,000 to a German publishing conglomerate you get to
December 12, 2025 at 12:52 AM
PITCH: like peer review, BUT instead of spending months contorting something you ultimately don't care about for nameless figures who have never seen your study species for the ultimate glory of a paying $4,000 to a German publishing conglomerate you get to
Reposted by Liam U. Taylor
I started getting reports of an unseasonal Joshua tree bloom in the last few weeks, and looking over records on @inaturalist.bsky.social it's pretty widespread! So we're putting out the call for folks to record this "bonus bloom" and help us study it 🌿
lab.jbyoder.org/2025/12/10/w...
lab.jbyoder.org/2025/12/10/w...
Weird wet weather has Joshua trees flowering early — or late? Help the Yoder Lab map this “bonus bloom” to understand why
A flowering tree in Yucca Valley, CA, observed by iNaturalist contributor wanderingmojave on December 9. A tree with lots of flowers in Tehachapi, CA, observed by iNaturalist contributor tina9294 o…
lab.jbyoder.org
December 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I started getting reports of an unseasonal Joshua tree bloom in the last few weeks, and looking over records on @inaturalist.bsky.social it's pretty widespread! So we're putting out the call for folks to record this "bonus bloom" and help us study it 🌿
lab.jbyoder.org/2025/12/10/w...
lab.jbyoder.org/2025/12/10/w...
as winter conference season approaches, I resolve to get better at emotionally dealing with people quietly googling on their phones to decide whether chitchatting with me will boost their h-index
December 11, 2025 at 1:09 AM
as winter conference season approaches, I resolve to get better at emotionally dealing with people quietly googling on their phones to decide whether chitchatting with me will boost their h-index
Reposted by Liam U. Taylor
"reviewers finish reading a paragraph before commenting" challenge (impossible)
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
December 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
"reviewers finish reading a paragraph before commenting" challenge (impossible)
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
Very seriously, my adventures as an author recently suggest that none of you should be complaining about the low reading skills of students. Fix your attention span.
one thing I've found so curious - not bad or good, just legit interesting and odd - is that evolutionary biologists who study adults hear "development" and think "plasticity" rather than organisms changing over the course of their life
December 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
one thing I've found so curious - not bad or good, just legit interesting and odd - is that evolutionary biologists who study adults hear "development" and think "plasticity" rather than organisms changing over the course of their life